Child of the Dao Star

The old man said, “Of course. Have you ever heard of becoming a sage overnight?” Su Yang shook his head. “Becoming a sage overnight? How does that work?” The old man said, “Someone who becomes a sage overnight is a rare sight through the ages, but such people do exist. Legend has it that Confucian scholars who never practiced martial arts as children and spent their entire lives studying the classics can, in old age, with their hair and beards turned white, suddenly comprehend the mysteries of heaven and earth in a single night. They are reborn, shed their old skin, and achieve a sage’s body. They can command the laws of the world at will. With a wave of the hand or a step of the foot, they can wield the power of heaven and earth, govern the sun, moon, and stars, and control all things. Would you say someone like that is an immortal?”

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Huo Yuanzhi said, “On our Qingyu Continent, most people start practicing martial arts when they’re young. But martial arts and cultivation are different. The true masters are cultivators, while those of us who practice martial arts are nothing more than the most ordinary warriors.” Su Yang asked, “Master, how does one cultivate?” Huo Yuanzhi said, “Listen, and I’ll explain. We warriors cultivate qi, also known as internal energy. At the highest levels, with a single breath of energy, we can shatter metal and split stone, lift a thousand-jin weight, scale walls, and run across grass. But compared with true cultivators, we’re worlds apart. Cultivators study the mysteries of heaven and earth and control its laws. Even at the early stages, they can fly on swords. Once they reach the higher realms, they can become immortals or Buddhas, travel to heaven or into the earth, and do anything. With a wave of the hand, they can destroy a nation. With a single move, they can annihilate an entire continent. They can become masters of the world, create a new realm, and rule over everything.”